The Rainbow Montessori Nursery

The Rainbow Montessori Nursery The Scout Hut, Hollybush Lane, Burghfield Common, Reading, RG7 3FL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 November 2016 13 December 2013

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The owner/managers provide strong leadership and an ethos of improvement across the nursery. They work very effectively with local partners in the community to provide exciting play areas and opportunities for learning.  Children's safety and protection is central to everything the staff do. They follow very robust safety procedures across all areas of the nursery and on their frequent outings into the village.  Staff reliably identify children whose learning and development is not at a typical level for their age. They put in place timely interventions to ensure those children make sufficient progress in readiness for school.  Children have excellent opportunities to explore and discover the natural world around them. For example, children concentrate for lengthy periods as they experiment with different ways of moving, sorting and sharing out natural objects in the garden area.  Staff have created an exceptionally nurturing environment where children are valued

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This provision is good

and respected as individuals.  Children are taught well and gain a good range of skills across all areas of learning. They are very well prepared for their move on to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not challenge the thinking of higher achieving children during some activities to extend their learning further.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 extend opportunities to challenge the thinking skills of higher achieving children to help them make more rapid improvement in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed care routines and teaching, and the impact of these on children's learning and development.  The inspector reviewed records and procedures relating to safeguarding, risk assessment, and health and safety, and discussed a range of other procedures relating to children's safety and welfare with the provider.  The inspector looked at children's records, the provider's planning and evaluation of activities, and how staff exchange information with parents.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and reviewed written communication from parents.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and met with both owners.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Skilled and experienced leaders seek to improve all areas of the provision to ensure good standards for the children in their care. They successfully encourage their staff to reflect on their practice and embrace further opportunities for professional development. The manager monitors children's achievements closely to help her address any delays in their development to ensure children's outcomes remain good. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have an excellent understanding of the most recent guidance on children's welfare and protection. For example, they are very aware of potential risks to children in their community and develop strong and effective partnerships with parents to ensure high standards of care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Well-trained staff make good use of accurate observations and informative assessments of children's learning and development. They plan and deliver wide-ranging learning opportunities for children such as choosing their own books from the local library. Consistently good-quality teaching ensures that all children progress well given their starting points. Staff exchange information with parents regularly including how practice links with both Montessori philosophy and the early years foundation stage requirements. They celebrate children's progress together and provide continuity of learning between home and the nursery. For example, parents share their children's delight as they bring home vegetables they have helped to grow on their allotment for Granddad's tea.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are extremely kind and caring. They patiently encourage children to increasing levels of independence such as when they dress appropriately for their outdoor adventures. Children pull on wetsuits and wellies before they investigate the surrounding woodlands, plant bulbs and fill wheelbarrows. Children thrive in the care of staff who provide security, encouragement and plenty of motivation to explore new challenges. Children behave extremely well. They practise working together and following simple safety rules. For example, children share garden tools and learn that some mushrooms are good to eat, while other fungi result in bad tummy ache.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are happy to play and investigate independently and imaginatively. Staff give them time to develop their ideas and take pride in their learning. They ensure children know what to expect and that they have the skills and confidence to be ready for school. For instance, older children practise carpet time routines and listen as other children express their opinions. Children's early mathematical knowledge develops well as, for example, they manipulate and fit together two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY463696 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1063550 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Rainbow Montessori Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 December 2013 Telephone number 07889794122 or 07702084099

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reference number

The Rainbow Montessori Nursery opened in 1993 and re-registered in 2013. The nursery is privately owned and managed by the two joint owners. It operates from the Scout Hut in the village of Burghfield Common, near Reading, Berkshire. The nursery is open each weekday during school term times from 9am to 1.30pm with the option during the summer term for older children to attend until 3pm. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are eight staff, all of whom hold a recognised childcare qualification to level 3 or above. One of the owners has early years professional status and another member of staff is early years teacher qualified.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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